By CHIDI NKWOPARA
OWERRI—The planned transfer of non-indigenes on the payroll of Abia State Government to their home states has continued to attract condemnation from concerned citizens.

The latest condemnation came from members of Imo State House of Assembly yesterday, as they unanimously passed a motion urging Governor Theodore Orji to have a rethink on the matter.

Moving the motion earlier, the chief sponsor, Mr. Ikechukwu Amuka, reasoned that the plan by Abia State Government to transfer non-indigenes on its payroll to their states of origin was capable of igniting a far reaching chain reaction.

It was the opinion of the lawmaker that if Abia State Government carried on with the planned act, the unity of purpose in the South-East geo-political zone would be badly shaken.

He said: “The people of the South-East geo-political zone are one and should remain one. Anybody or group of persons that engages in anything that would dislodge Igbo unity is unfair to our collective tomorrow.”

He called on Abia State governor, Chief Theodore Orji, to rescind the plan, adding that the policy would not be in the overall interest of the Igbo nation.

All the members of the legislature spoke in favour of the motion, even as they wondered if Abia State Government was afraid of bearing the burden of paying the pension and gratuity of the affected staff.

They expressed happiness that Governor Rochas Okorocha had so far not reacted negatively to the development.

The motion, which dominated yesterday’s session, attracted wide condemnation of the policy by members of the House and when the Speaker, Mr. Ben Uwajimogu, called for vote on the motion it was unanimously carried by the lawmakers.